LOUGHBOROUGH Greenfields 2nd XI played local rivals Outwoods at home last Saturday with the visitors taking the spoils in close fought drawn game.

Greenfields fielded a team with three U13s and three U15s due to lack of availability with senior players.

Outwoods were asked to bat first and made slow progress scoring only 13 off the first 10 overs with young McKauly Booth bowling four overs conceding only five runs and Will Parker picking up an early wicket.

A needless run out brought Dave Faull (38) to the wicket and his mindset was to get on with it and dispatched the Fields bowling to all parts and together with Dad Steve Faull (30) the over rate soon picked up.

Enter 11-year-old leg spinner Oliver Williams who promptly picked up his first two wickets in league cricket finishing with 2 for 24.

Outwoods continued to accelerate with John Corrie (33 not out) and S. Penver (18 not out) seeing them to a total of 198 for 8 with Erol Ersoy the pick of the bowlers with 4 for 34.

Greenfields needed a solid start but lost Will Parker in the fifth over for 17.

A fine second wicket partnership of 80 between John Watson (59) and Errol Ersoy (23) seemed to give them hope off pulling off a rare win. But Steve Faull removed Watson leg before as the runs began to dry up and wickets began to fall.

Greenfields at 131 for 5 were relying on the young lads to save the game and with a great deal of determination and courage, 13-year-olds Jack Birch (16no) and McKauley Booth (16no) frustrated the Outwoods bowling attack.

Both lads were growing in confidence all the time and played some fine shots in their 47 run unbroken partnership to leave Greenfields finishing a creditable 177 for 5. S Butt finishing with 4 for 40 for the visitors.